Stem 2–4 ft. high, glabrous below, more or less hispid above with flaccid glandular hairs. Lower leaves coarsely and irregularly crenate-dentate, glabrous or hairy, ovate, obtuse, petiolate, 3–4 in. long; petioles 1 in. or more in length. Upper leaves linear-lanceolate, scarcely petiolate, subamplexicaul, obtuse. Internodes 4–6 in. long; bracteoles linear, acute, hispid. Inflorescence more or less hispid; flowers scarlet or bright orange, shortly pedicellate, in many-flowered erect or ascending distichous racemes, collected in broad terminal panicles; lower peduncles nearly 1 ft. long, with flowers in rounded corymbose panicles. Calyx pubescent, segments lanceolate, acute, 2–3 lines long, united at the base. Corolla-tube 1/2 in. long, somewhat membranous, hispid, or sometimes nearly glabrous. Limb 1/2 in. across, segments deltoid-ovate, acuminate, glabrous or pubescent beneath. Squamulæ linear, whitish, acute, about 2 lines long. Carpels united at the base, adpressed for about half their length. Seeds black or very dark brown.
